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Home , Jeevan Mendis, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 SPORTS Smith joins greats as Aussies pressure

SYDNEY: joined the greats yester- day with his fourth century of the series as India hung in after the shock loss of an early on the second day of the final Test in Sydney. The Aussie skipper became only the third batsman along with Don Bradman and Jacques Kallis to score tons in four consecutive Tests in the same series as his team posted a total beyond 500 for the fourth Test running. Smith contributed 117 in ’s first innings decla- ration of 572 for seven before the tourists were rocked by the third-ball dismissal of opener Murali Vijay for a duck. At the close, India had stabilised at 71 for one to trail Australia by 501 with Lokesh Rahul on 31 and Rohit Sharma hitting two sixes on his way to 40 . “I thought our whole top six played really well,” Smith said.”We’ve relied a lot on the tail in the last couple of Test matches and I said the batters had to step up in this match. “The whole top six got above fifty which I WELLINGTON: New Zealand pose for a photo after winning the match and the series don’t think has happened before. That’s out- against on day five of the second international Test match at the standing for us. “It’s not the kind of wicket I Basin Reserve. —AFP think where you can blast sides out. It’s about staying patient and hopefully the patience pays off.” NZ fight back to win Left-armer Mitchell Starc, bowling with fire and rhythm, slanted one across Vijay and coaxed a snick to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Sri Lanka Test, series Starc may be in disciplinary trouble for giv- ing Vijay a big send-off, roaring in his face and waving his fists in a fiery opening over as WELLINGTON: New Zealand recovered the Test, tactfully refused to criticise the Mitchell Johnson’s injury replacement. from first innings turmoil to convincingly dismissal. “That’s the way it goes and unfor- But the day belonged to Smith, who added beat Sri Lanka by 193 runs in the second tunately, or fortunately, we have to take it another century to his unbeaten 162 in Test in Wellington yesterday and record a 2- as it comes,” he said, switching the blame Adelaide, 133 in Brisbane and 192 in Melbourne 0 series whitewash. for the “shocking turnaround” on poor in this series. Led by offspinner Mark Craig who took fielding including four let offs for “It’s been a pretty special summer for me four for 53, New Zealand ripped through Sri Williamson on his way to an unbeaten 242. personally, obviously with some of the results Lanka’s second innings after setting them a “If we had held on to our catches, it that I’ve got,” Smith said. “But look, I always put 390-run target. Sri Lanka were all out for would have been a different story. But they the team first, I think the success the team has 196, not helped by the questionable dis- were able to reverse the pressure on us and had over the last little bit has been outstanding missal of . we just couldn’t hold on,” he said. and we’re in another good position in this Test The maestro’s 203 paved the “Kane batted brilliantly, but we have to match.” way for Sri Lanka to hold a 135-run first grab those chances. We were under no real Australia passed 500 for the fourth Test of the innings lead and New Zealand were in dire pressure at the time... You can’t really drop series, a feat last registered against the Garry straits when they collapsed to be five down those sitters when you’re on the way to Sobers-led West Indies at home in 1968-69. SYDNEY: Australia’s Nathan Lyon (center) appeals to umpire Richard Kettleborough of England and only 24 runs ahead in their second winning the game and you are desperate Smith was out just before lunch when he was innings. But a world record sixth-wicket to win the game.” (bottom) for an LBW decision on India’s Rohit Sharma (third left) on the second day of their crick- caught behind off Umesh Yadav ending his 208- et Test match. —AP stand of 365 by Kane Williamson and BJ The tourists started the final day at 45 ball knock spiced with 15 fours. Watling turned the game in New Zealand’s for one with the options of playing for a He has 698 runs in the series at an average of pitch for India’s bowlers with Shami finishing The tourists have won only one of their favor, leaving Craig and quick bowlers Trent face-saving draw or playing for a win to 139.6, placing him third behind Bradman (715) with five for 112 off 28.3 overs. last 22 Tests overseas and have been suc- Boult and Doug Bracewell to polish off Sri save the series after losing the first Test in and Ricky Ponting (706) for most runs in a series India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar cessful in only one of their 10 Tests at the Lanka on the final day. “For so long we were Christchurch by eight . Faint hopes against India. Trophy with Australia holding an unassailable 2- Sydney Cricket Ground, that sole victory miles behind the game and it took some- of a remarkable win vanished early when Smith is having an extraordinary purple 0 lead following wins in Adelaide and Brisbane. coming 37 years ago. —AFP thing pretty special for us to get out of Boult removed nightwatchman Dhammika patch and has now scored six centuries in the trouble firstly and then be allowed to dic- Prasad for six before continuing his domi- first innings of his last seven Tests at home. SCOREBOARD tate play,” New Zealand Brendon nance of Sangakkara to dismiss the Sri Watson again missed out on what would McCullum said. Lankan legend for five. have been only his fifth Test century when, on a SYDNEY: Scoreboard at the close of play on the second day of the fourth Test between Australia and India New Zealand sensed the win was on Bracewell finished the pre-lunch session flat SCG wicket, he had another brain snap and at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday: when both Sangakkara and Angelo with the crucial wicket of Kaushal Silva for hoisted Mohammed Shami straight to Mathews fell before lunch on the final day. 50 and then Mathews for eight with the Sri Ravichandran Ashwin at deep midwicket for 81. Australia 1st innings (overnight 348 for 2) Shami 28.3-3-112-5, Ashwin 47-8-142-1, Raina 16-3- “Both guys (are) capable of winning games Lankan skipper well caught one-handed by Watson has now scored 24 half-centuries but C. Rogers b Shami 95 53-0 Did not bat: M. Starc, N. Lyon, J. Hazlewood on their own, so to be able to get both of a diving Williamson in the gully. Williamson just four tons in 56 Tests, with his last Test hun- D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin 101 those guys was huge and certainly at the was back in action after lunch to partner dred coming against England in Perth in S. Watson c Ashwin b Shami 81 India 1st innings lunch break we knew we were in with a big Craig in the dismissal of Prasanna December 2013. He toiled for 250 minutes and S. Smith c Saha b Yadav 117 M. Vijay c Haddin b Starc 0 sniff of being able to close out the game.” Jayawardene for 10 as the spinner came faced 183 balls in putting on 196 runs for the S. Marsh c Saha b Shami 73 There remained a question mark, how- into his own with a three-wicket burst. He L. Rahul not out 31 third wicket with Smith. J. Burns c Rahul b Shami 58 R. Sharma not out 40 ever, over Sangakkara’s caught behind dis- removed (13) and B. Haddin not out 9 Shaun Marsh added 73 to his 99 in Extras 0 missal. New Zealand wicketkeeper Watling in successive balls. Melbourne before he was caught behind off R. Harris c Ashwin b Shami 25 Total (1 wicket, 25 overs) 71 did not initially join the appeal which was Bracewell celebrated his recall to the Shami nearing tea. Marsh batted for 116 balls Extras (lb6, w7) 13 turned down. New Zealand team after 14 months in the with nine fours and a six. Total (7 wickets dec, 152.3 overs) 572 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Vijay) However, McCullum sought a review wilderness with two for 25 and ran out Joe Burns, playing in his second Test, was Fall of wickets: 1-200 (Warner), 2-204 (Rogers), 3-400 Bowling: Starc 6-2-17-1, Harris 7-1-17-0, Hazlewood and it took multiple replays before the third for six. Boult, New well caught by Rahul in the deep for 58 off 114 (Watson), 4-415 (Smith), 5-529 (Marsh), 6-546 4-1-10-0, Lyon 8-1-27-0 umpire Bruce Oxenford of Australia was Zealand’s premier bowler, finished with two balls and Ryan Harris roused the crowd with a (Burns), 7-572 (Harris) To bat: V. Kohli, A. Rahane, S. Raina, W. Saha, R. convinced the technology showed there for 55. New Zealand have now won four lusty 25 off nine balls before the declaration. Bowling: Kumar 34-5-122-0, Yadav 27-5-137-1 (6w), Ashwin, M. Shami, U. Yadav, B. Kumar. was the faintest nick. and drawn two of their last six series, last It was hard going on the unresponsive SCG Mathews, who needed his in-form bats- tasting a series defeat away against man at the crease to have a chance to save England in May 2013.—AFP SCOREBOARD Sohail in squad for World Cup WELLINGTON: Scoreboard at the close yesterday on day five of the second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington: : Fast bowler earned a ets in the five tests against Australia and New before in Australia and New Zealand.” New Zealand 1st innings 221 (K. Williamson D. Chandimalc Watling b Craig 13 surprise recall to the Pakistan squad for the Zealand recently in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan will be without two of their most 69; N. Pradeep 4-63, S. Lakmal R. Herathlbw Craig 0 World Cup while selectors omitted senior play- Misbah-ul-Haq had also recovered from a experienced spinners at the tournament as 3-71) S. Lakmalrun out (Bracewell) 6 ers and from their hamstring injury he sustained last month while and have Sri Lanka 1st innings 356 (K. Sangakkara 203, N. Pradeep b Southee 1 final 15-member list yesterday. The 30-year-old playing against New Zealand in the UAE and been suspended from bowling in international D. Chandimal 67; J. Neesham Extras (b8 lb6, w3, nb1) 18 Sohail was picked for his strong performances would lead the team at the Feb. 14-March 29 cricket for illegal actions. 3-42, D. Bracewell 3-93) Total (10 wickets, 72.4 overs) 196 in domestic cricket this season, chief selector tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Hafeez, however, was included as a specialist New Zealand 2nd innings 524-5 dec (K. Fall of wicket: 1-42 (Karunaratne), 2-51 told reporters in Karachi. Moin added. opener and Moin said he would undergo Williamson 242 not out, B. Watling (Prasad), 3-61 (Sangakkara), 4-94 “We have picked a full battery of pace “He (Misbah) says he is gaining fitness and another bowling test prior to the tournament. 142 not out; N. Pradeep 3-117) (Silva), 5-110 (Mathews), 6-133 (Jayawardene), bowlers while our spin bowling department is he is an experienced player so we are confident “We have picked only two specialist openers Sri Lanka 2nd innings (overnight 45-1) 7-156 (Chandimal), 8-156 also led by the experienced and he will be ready for the World Cup,” Moin while wicketkeeper will be the (Herath), 9-189 (Lakmal), 10-196 (Pradeep) D. Karunaratne c Rutherford b Craig 17 includes legspinner ,” Moin said. added. reserve opener when required,” Moin added. Bowling: Boult 21-2-55-2 (1w), Southee 17.4-6- K. Silva c Craig b Bracewell 50 Right-arm bowler Sohail has played two “The selectors have done a lot of homework Pakistan squad: Mohammad Hafeez, 41-1, Bracewell 13-3-25-2 tests and five one-day internationals but last in selecting this squad and we are confident , Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq D. Prasadc Neesham b Boult 6 (1nb, 2w), Craig 18-8-53-4, Rutherford 1-0-2-0, K. Sangakkara c Watling b Boult 5 represented Pakistan in Zimbabwe in 2011. this side will put up a good performance in the (captain), Harris Sohail, , Sohaib Williamson 2-0-6-0 Yasir also played his only ODI against World Cup. Maqsood, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, L. Thirimanne not out 62 Toss: Sri Lanka A. Mathews c Williamson b Bracewell 8 Zimbabwe on the same tour. “We have lot of expectations from this squad , , Sohail Khan, Result: New Zealand won by 193 runs The leg-spinner, however, bagged 27 wick- specially the youngsters who have not played , , Yasir Shah. —Reuters P. Jayawardene c Williamson b Craig 10 Series: New Zealand won 2-0 Sri Lanka gamble on Malinga : Sri Lanka have included pace the Feb. 14-March 29 World Cup. spearhead in their 15-man The 2011 World Cup runners-up, who squad for the Cricket World Cup despite lost to India in the final, also included off- concerns over his fitness after ankle sur- spinner , who was gery, the country’s cricket board said yes- recently cleared to bowl after remedial terday. The mercurial Malinga had left work on his action. ankle surgery in September and missed The team will be led by all-rounder the team’s one-day series against India with left-handed bats- and England. man as his deputy. The Malinga is expected to return in the island nation will play two warm-up later stages of the seven match ODI series games, against South Africa and against New Zealand, which starts in Zimbabwe, before their opening match of Christchurch on Sunday, and was includ- the tournament against co-hosts New ed in the World Cup squad, subject to fit- Zealand on Feb. 14. ness, the Sri Lanka board said in a state- ment. Squad: The 31-year-old Malinga, whose york- Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne ers delivered with a sling-shot action at Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela times makes him almost unplayable, will Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne (vice- be crucial for Sri Lanka’s chances in the captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Zealand. Fast bowler Shaminda Eranga Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga was the only name missing from the 16- (subject to fitness), , member squad that will play in the ODI , Rangana Herath, series in New Zealand as a warm-up for Sachithra Senanayake.—Reuters CAPE TOWN: South Africa AB de Villiers (center front) forming part of the fifteen member Cricket World Cup 2015 team pose for team photo. —AP